Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #452122 in Books
• Published on: 1998
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
So potent is the Superman mythos, you would think that once Clark Kent donned the iconic costume, his unprejudiced morality and sense of Justice instantly fortified him. Is it possible that fears and self-doubts plagued the Man of Steel? Overwhelmed by the immensity of his self-proclaimed mission and the world's expectations? With Superman For All Seasons, the answer is given in the most beautiful, poetic fashion; exquisite proof of the depths that comics now regularly explore. By the story's end, we see a Superman forged by traditional values and tempered by raw experience of the harsh realities that will dog his extraordinary life and presence. A key character in Superman's life intimately narrates each of the four seasonal segments. From his father, the sorrow of losing his boy to his destiny; Lois Lane's infatuation for the hero who passes unnoticed as her colleague; a love story between Lex Luthor and Metropolis, with Superman as the adulterer; and Lana Lang's ode to a wistful childhood displaced by adult responsibility. From the pastoral beauty of Kansas to the sprawling urbanity of Metropolis, Loeb and Sale have not wasted one iota of this opportunity to explore Superman's genesis. Exceptional and overflowing with grace, this showcases a modern myth with purity and wonderment. --Danny Graydon

Customer Reviews

Loeb and Sale at their best
I became a huge fan of Loeb and Sale since reading their wonderful noiresque work on Batman in The Long Haloween and it's sequel Dark Victory and upon hearing about this book was intrigued to find out their take on Krypton's last son.
Those seeking wall to wall action may be disappointed but make no mistake the depth of character, masterful storytelling and sumptuous artwork is guaranteed to keep you turning the pages.
Loeb and Sale succeed in doing what very few writers who tackle the character are able to do. Make Superman vulnerable and someone a reader can really relate to. It does this by helping us share Clark's growing pains and apprehensions about his powers and their implications (like Smallville but better).
The supporting cast are superbly fleshed out with Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Lana lang and ol' Pa Jonathan Kent providing narratives for the corresponding seasons.
Despite the book's character driven montage there are some superb set pieces and action sequences and the artwork provides a silver age style nostalgia to a timeless Superman story.

And for this price whether or not to buy this book should not be an issue.

The definitive version of a classic.,
I should say here that I am not a comic book reader on a regular basis. This book took me by surprise. It made me realize what I loved about the Man of Steel when I was six years old and spent every penny I could beg from my dad on buying Superman comics. It made me realize, also, what Superman means to me now, thirty some-odd years later, and how there is still resonance and life for this great literary creation (and I'll back that up with detailed arguments if I have to) all these years since his creation.
Superman, here, is a man, and a man of conscience. His greatest power has never been his strength or his speed or his invulnerability. It has always been his conscience, his need to set things right, to save lives, to basically "do the right thing." In "Superman for All Seasons," his humanity and his
conscience are brought out and emphasized. It is easy to lose sight of those two attributes, and even DC has lost sight of them before. Not here. They are front and center, for your attention. And you should pay attention.
Loeb, Sale and Hanson put Superman/Clark Kent back in his roots, showing his life on the farm, his first love, and the tragedies and triumphs that make him who he is. He is not simply a "big blue boy scout" here. He is a man of conscience, and someone who broods a lot, and someone who doesn't have all the answers. But what he does have, he gives freely, and he does his absolute best at all times. Other readers have commented on the differences between Batman and Superman, but they all come down to this: Batman is motivated by vengeance. Superman is motivated by responsibility.Responsibility is underrated. Vengeance is more sexy, but what quality would you rather have in a fireman?

This is a "corny" story. It's about responsibility, and caring for people, and doing the right thing. And yes, there's even a dog. I hate to use the word "values," since it has been co-opted by people who have no interest in the true matters of the heart, but this story has them. It's worth reading if you're six or if you're forty-six, regardless of whether you care about comics or not, simply because it finds the heart - the essence - of this hero, and it reflects the heart of what is good about Superman. And by extension it shows what is good about the society that created Superman as a literary figure.
I cannot recommend "Superman for All Seasons" more highly; it is essential for students of American culture, for people who still dream, and for people who want a good story well told.

Great for what it is.
I bought this book due to great reviews and recomendations from fellow comic geeks.This book is very slowpaced and good for a quick read.I enjoyed it even though i thought it was a little bit lacking in plot.Personally i enjoy comic books with capturing plots and fast paced action.This is a must have for any Superman superfan just for the great artwork by Tim Sale.